The sandstone is a soft rock found throughout the Lower Dauphiné, where it is often the only building stone. This underground quarry is one of the major mining sites in the Drôme.Exploitées since ancient times, these quarries supplied the materials to major projects such as the medieval cathedral of Valencia College Saint-Barnard de Romans. Still used for the construction of the Canal de la Bourne in 1877, molasses is used less and less irreversibly from that time, mainly because of competition from cement.

Both descents lead to lower level, located below the point of view of this photo.

A technical galery connected to an railway abandonned (the loop) around Paris.

This is the lowest level of the quarry. The ceiling is low because there is a level just above. The quarrymen have not dug lower because of the proximity to the Seine.

Like many industrial buildings, the warehouses of the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce and Industry) have been constructed to withstand heavy loads. Both buildings have followed the trend of increasing concrete, early twentieth century. In the manner of some cathedrals, the lower floors boast a strong and massive concrete pillars whose diameter decreases gradually with height in stages. This is especially evident when one observes the facade from below.

Originally, these warehouses were used to store grain and flour. In taking possession in 1929, the ICC enjoys a strategic investment (The Ourcq channel, railway) and modernized the building to add elevators, more capable than the old mobile cranes to the variety of Goods transiting.

Note: This building was the setting for the movie Dobermann by Jan Kounen (nightclub on the docks).

"The mine"

The slope goes down in the lower level that can make the connection with the largest sectors. Warning, the quarry and especially this level is full of holes in all kind. So please pay attention, thank you.

I call this quarry "ears" after my visit because the network structure has the form of an ear (a central path and branches along that path). The network is poorly ventilated and has a low oxygen level. Official visit conducted with OCRA.

Quarries of Paris - The fountain of the Chartreux.

The Fountain Room of the Carthusians was built in 1819. The order of Carthusian monks had disappeared during the French Revolution. There is a magnificent double staircase which gives access to the fountain. Further, a low water level is used to measure the height variations of the water table. The fountain was built by the Inspectorate General of underground quarries to supply water to underground workers.nterirdischen Steinbrüche gebaut, um Wasser in die U-Arbeiter zu versorgen.

The tunnel entrance of the small ring in the Parc Montsouris.

The creation of a railway track near Paris was decided in 1851. Very quickly, the main stations of Paris are linked, including that of Bercy. In 1867, the loop is completed.

Following the increase in passenger traffic on the subway, going to the inner ring decreases. In 1934, there is more train traveler. Only freight trains. In 1993, the entire line is abandoned, with the exception of the line that runs along the banks of the Seine, used by commuter trains.

This is the lowest level of the quarry. The ceiling is low because there is a level just above. The quarrymen have not dug lower because of the proximity to the Seine.